Dr. Stephen D. House, age 79, of Bowling Green, KY, passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2024, while resting peacefully at home surrounded by family.
Dr. House has been associated with Western Kentucky University for more than thirty years. During his time on the hill, he was a charter member of Lambda Chi Alpha and received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Western Kentucky University. He earned a doctoral degree from Indiana University and completed the Executive Program in Negotiation at Harvard Law School.
During his Tenure at Western, he held the positions of Director of Admissions, University Registrar, Executive Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the Knicely Institute for Economic Development. He taught in the Ford College of Business with a specialization in the areas of negotiation and mediation of conflict.
He has served as a project director for programs sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Small Business Administration, AT&T, and U.S. Department of Commerce. He is a former president of the National Association of Management and Technical Assistance Centers and has served on numerous boards including the American Association of Retirement Communities (AARC), Kentucky Small Business Development Centers, the Kentucky Certified Community Partnership, the Southern Growth Policies Board, and the Kentucky Quality Control. Dr. House was a distinguished member of NAMTAC. During his Tenure at the Knicely Institute, he was successful in raising more than five million for programs under his direction. Also, during his administration, the institute started community leadership programs in nine Kentucky counties.
Dr. House made numerous presentations to Native American People including the Navajo in New Mexico, the Choctaw in Mississippi, and Native Alaskans in the remote villages of Shismaref and Kotzebue. He completed eight trips to the state of Alaska teaching the art of negations and agreement to Native Alaskans.
In addition, he was a graduate of New Albany Senior High School, New Albany, IN, commissioned a Kentucky Colonel, owned a private business, and was a successful boxing and music promoter. He was a member of Eastwood Baptist Church. He had a entrepreneurial spirit, loved his family, loved God and loved Kentucky.
He was preceded in death by his father, William House, mother, Sylvia Quebbeman, sister Elizabeth, and son, Jeff House. Survivors include his wife Judith House of fifty-six years, his two sons, Danny (Jennifer) House, Jon (Christina) House, his grandsons, Chris, Michael, Grayson and Owen, his niece, Carla Coahran and great-nephew, Noah Coahran.
Funeral services for Dr. Stephen D. House are scheduled to be conducted on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 11:00 am from J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel with burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery. Visitation with the family will begin on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm and again on Wednesday from 9:00 am until time of service at 11:00 am at the funeral home.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of donations be made to Hosparus of Barren River and to Eastwood Baptist Church. Envelopes will be provided at the Funeral Home.
